DON’T WANT TO GO TO UNIVERSITY? BIT CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT TO DO NEXT? DON’T WORRY, LIFE’S NOT OVER FOR YOU YET!

October 14, 2015

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The thing about university is that it is categorically not for everyone. For people who loved school, loved studying, loved the structure and want to carry that on for a few more years (despite the debt) – great. Uni is the perfect shout for you. Off you go.

But what if you want to look further afield? These days there are just SO MANY more opportunities than simply jumping straight from school to university. Traineeships, gap year programmes, apprenticeships, work experience, full time employment; the world is your oyster.

And even if you ARE pretty sure uni is for you – there’s no harm in checking out what else is on offer, right?

Avoid racking up the debt

The reality of being a student right now is that however you look at it, you’re going to leave full-time education in thousands of pounds worth of debt – and dammit, that’s no way to start your life. The great thing about choosing another path is that you can not only avoid debt, but start earning almost immediately.

Paid internships, paid training and apprenticeship programmes ensure far payment for a fair day’s work – and mean you can get to grips with a whole new industry, whilst lining your pockets. Nice.

Keep learning – but learn in new ways

Book learning, memorising facts and structuring essays may stand you in good stead whilst you’re at school and college, but they’re not necessarily relevant for the career you want.

By tackling a work placement or a traineeship, you’ll experience a whole new, more hands on approach to learning: thinking on your feet, working with new people and growing an entirely new skill-base. Sounds bloody exciting, if we do say so ourselves.

Get the degree… without the university part

A lot of people worry that they need a degree in order to be taken seriously as a professional, and though we don’t necessarily agree, there are definitely career paths that are easier to access if you have a diploma in your hands. LUCKILY, with degree apprenticeships, you can get the accolades and new skills, without the debt, and with real, on-the-job learning to boot. Take a look at this article from the amazing site Not Going To Uni to learn more – you can definitely have your cake and eat it too!

Get where you want to be faster

The problem with university is that it is another road-block in your path to entering the Big Bad World. For some people, this is a very welcome thing (please don’t make me get a job! Please!), but for others who are impatient to get started, this can be super frustrating. Another THREE years in education? When I could get started with what I want to do now, and be WAY out in front by the time everyone else graduates? Come ON.

Interested? Find out more

If you think you might be interested in taking a look at a different path, but aren’t quite sure where to go, we’ve got your back. First off, take a look at the entirety of the Not Going To Uni blog we mentioned earlier, the government apprenticeship website, and eye-opening resource Uni’s Not For Me for some true inspiration. The world is a big place. Why not explore it?